The Energon Pub

If my current finances are to be a reflection on my future 3rd Party purchases, this may be the kit that upgrades my FoC FruitBruticus as much as I would like the Microblaze Creations Voyager!

Despite the announcement of the Dark, SDCC/Platinum and G2 versions, are X-Transbots still offering the Hasbro retail fruity version (I see BBTS still have it for pre-order)?

I ask as I dont recall any mention of the regular version still being produced?

I also wonder if the U.K. will see the general release of The Wreckers, that said, I assume X-Transbots will announce a Ruination coloured set so they make the most out of this mould.
I hope Echo is overseeing the Q.C. aspects before they are sent out to retailers!

robotmel wrote::-?
If my current finances are to be a reflection on my future 3rd Party purchases, this may be the kit that upgrades my FoC FruitBruticus as much as I would like the Microblaze Creations Voyager!

Despite the announcement of the Dark, SDCC/Platinum and G2 versions, are X-Transbots still offering the Hasbro retail fruity version (I see BBTS still have it for pre-order)?

I ask as I dont recall any mention of the regular version still being produced?

I also wonder if the U.K. will see the general release of The Wreckers, that said, I assume X-Transbots will announce a Ruination coloured set so they make the most out of this mould.
I hope Echo is overseeing the Q.C. aspects before they are sent out to retailers!

You answered your pre-order/version questions...

Video review:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNjUxMzgzMTY4.html

No new pics of the G2 set yet ?

Takara colored version of Boosticus up for preorder at BBTS.

Looks like there are now 4 versions up for preorder. (Dark version is sold out, it looks like...)

Agamemnon wrote:Takara colored version of Boosticus up for preorder at BBTS.

Looks like there are now 4 versions up for preorder. (Dark version is sold out, it looks like...)

Awesome. I think Ill wait until I have the G2 version in hand but am about 90% sure I want this as well. I see myself also buying the voyager Onslaughts if they come out in G2 or Takara colors and mixing and matching the best parts.

[Echo TF] BEK-01SP Boosticus Enhancement Kit (SDCC/Platinum ver)

Dammit !!! Enough with the stupid SDCC...bring on the G2 and Takara !!!

I remain somewhat underwhelmed by Boosticus.

megatronus wrote:I remain somewhat underwhelmed by Boosticus.

Well, it's not exactly a fair comparison when that other kit has a completely new Onslaught.

Still, I like this one as a more affordable alternative. And I think it looks pretty good, for what it is.

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:I remain somewhat underwhelmed by Boosticus.

Well, it's not exactly a fair comparison when that other kit has a completely new Onslaught.

Indeed!

Agamemnon wrote:Still, I like this one as a more affordable alternative. And I think it looks pretty good, for what it is.

For what it is, sure. But just the side by side makes me think the MBC figure as a $50+ improvement over Boosticus is worth it.

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:I remain somewhat underwhelmed by Boosticus.

Well, it's not exactly a fair comparison when that other kit has a completely new Onslaught.

Still, I like this one as a more affordable alternative. And I think it looks pretty good, for what it is.

Other than articulated fingers, this set does everything the Microblaze set does for combiner mode at half the price. I'm not seeing those exaggerated "G1 Predaking" proportions everyone claims is the reason the torso must be voyager class. Hasbro got the proportions right even with a deluxe torso. The problem is Hasbro got everything else wrong. But this set fixes it. Supposedly, this set lets you upgrade the combiners arms without disconnecting limbs and parts forming. (I don't know if that's true or not) My main issue with the Microblaze set is that it makes Onslaught look so good that the other 4 bots look like crap. Microblaze should have just done all 5 Combaticons right and forget about upgrading. I might still buy that Onslaught if it comes out in G2 colors or if they at least offer Takara shoes with it as some point. But until then, the X-transbots set nails the intended target spot on. It's a cheaply made set that makes another cheaply made set look awesome.

Rated X wrote:Other than articulated fingers, this set does everything the Microblaze set does for combiner mode at half the price.

Microblaze:


Boosticus:


Is Boosticus half the price? Sure. Does it do for Bruticus everything Microblaze does? Not really.

Rated X wrote:I'm not seeing those exaggerated "G1 Predaking" proportions everyone claims is the reason the torso must be voyager class.

So, you would say the Torso is properly sized for those limbs?

Rated X wrote:Hasbro got the proportions right even with a deluxe torso.

They... did??

Rated X wrote:The problem is Hasbro got everything else wrong. But this set fixes it. Supposedly, this set lets you upgrade the combiners arms without disconnecting limbs and parts forming. (I don't know if that's true or not).

The one thing that Boosticus has going for it is no parts-forming, but I don't really mind parts-forming a gestalt; in my opinion gestalts are almost by definition parts-formers anyway. Plus, I don't understand the argument that the limbs are the wrong size viz-a-viz the torso. If you're seeking the simplest solution, wouldn't you want to make a change in 1 figure (the torso) rather than in 4 figures? Why go through the trouble of downsizing 4 figures when you can upsize 1?

Rated X wrote:My main issue with the Microblaze set is that it makes Onslaught look so good that the other 4 bots look like crap.

You've made the case before on other threads, but I just don't think the "It looks TOO good to buy" argument holds much water.

Rated X wrote:Microblaze should have just done all 5 Combaticons right and forget about upgrading.

After nailing Microblaze for being more expensive... you want them to make additional, more expensive figures? Between my Black Friday PE Bruticus & early bird Microblaze, my upgraded FOC Bruticus will cost me $175. That's the cheapest gestalt on my shelf, and I'm thankful for it.

Rated X wrote:I might still buy that Onslaught if it comes out in G2 colors or if they at least offer Takara shoes with it as some point. But until then, the X-transbots set nails the intended target spot on. It's a cheaply made set that makes another cheaply made set look awesome.

You can have your cheaply made Boosticus set. I'll stick with MBC

Rated X wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:I remain somewhat underwhelmed by Boosticus.

Well, it's not exactly a fair comparison when that other kit has a completely new Onslaught.

Still, I like this one as a more affordable alternative. And I think it looks pretty good, for what it is.

Other than articulated fingers, this set does everything the Microblaze set does for combiner mode at half the price. I'm not seeing those exaggerated "G1 Predaking" proportions everyone claims is the reason the torso must be voyager class. Hasbro got the proportions right even with a deluxe torso. The problem is Hasbro got everything else wrong. But this set fixes it. Supposedly, this set lets you upgrade the combiners arms without disconnecting limbs and parts forming. (I don't know if that's true or not) My main issue with the Microblaze set is that it makes Onslaught look so good that the other 4 bots look like crap. Microblaze should have just done all 5 Combaticons right and forget about upgrading. I might still buy that Onslaught if it comes out in G2 colors or if they at least offer Takara shoes with it as some point. But until then, the X-transbots set nails the intended target spot on. It's a cheaply made set that makes another cheaply made set look awesome.

What are you doing? I thought price is not an issue for you.. stop trying to justify why you like an inferior product! You know this set is not as good.

On a cell phone this time so dont expect a perect answer. Basically, the FOC bruticus set is crap without an add on set. I admit after seeing the fruitcus image above, maybe hasbro didnt do a good job on proportions with the torso. But the funny thing is, the x transbots set seems to hide it. With the chest sheild and waist plate, the torso looks about the same as microblaze. Not sure why, but it makes the figure work. I always hated seeing a faction leader twice the height as his limb troops anyways, since the G1 cartoon never really emphasized that...it was exclusive to G1 toy scale. And your right, money is not an issue with me. But who said it wasn't cool to save ? The reason money isnt an issue is because I am very frugal with other parts of my life that the average american flushes thousands down the toilet every year. And I care about the individual bots as I do combined mode. A good looking onslaught isnt going to magically make the other four not look like crap. So I stand by my statement, that other than articulated fingers, x transbots does everything microblaze does for the combiner mode.

Rated X wrote:On a cell phone this time so dont expect a perect answer. Basically, the FOC bruticus set is crap without an add on set. I admit after seeing the fruitcus image above, maybe hasbro didnt do a good job on proportions with the torso. But the funny thing is, the x transbots set seems to hide it. With the chest sheild and waist plate, the torso looks about the same as microblaze. Not sure why, but it makes the figure work. I always hated seeing a faction leader twice the height as his limb troops anyways, since the G1 cartoon never really emphasized that...it was exclusive to G1 toy scale. And your right, money is not an issue with me. But who said it wasn't cool to save ? The reason money isnt an issue is because I am very frugal with other parts of my life that the average american flushes thousands down the toilet every year. And I care about the individual bots as I do combined mode. A good looking onslaught isnt going to magically make the other four not look like crap. So I stand by my statement, that other than articulated fingers, x transbots does everything microblaze does for the combiner mode.

That's a really good reply! You're right if you care about individual bot modes. The other 4 will still look bad and you got one good looking figure. But the combine mode there is no contest to me. Microblaze wins for me. For me this boosticus set is like putting lipstick on a pig... in the end you'll just have a pig with lipstick.

I think you'll want the other set once you realize the down falls of this set inhand. but good luck to you hopefully I'm wrong and you'll love it. But plz do let us know.

mooncake623 wrote:

Rated X wrote:On a cell phone this time so dont expect a perect answer. Basically, the FOC bruticus set is crap without an add on set. I admit after seeing the fruitcus image above, maybe hasbro didnt do a good job on proportions with the torso. But the funny thing is, the x transbots set seems to hide it. With the chest sheild and waist plate, the torso looks about the same as microblaze. Not sure why, but it makes the figure work. I always hated seeing a faction leader twice the height as his limb troops anyways, since the G1 cartoon never really emphasized that...it was exclusive to G1 toy scale. And your right, money is not an issue with me. But who said it wasn't cool to save ? The reason money isnt an issue is because I am very frugal with other parts of my life that the average american flushes thousands down the toilet every year. And I care about the individual bots as I do combined mode. A good looking onslaught isnt going to magically make the other four not look like crap. So I stand by my statement, that other than articulated fingers, x transbots does everything microblaze does for the combiner mode.

That's a really good reply! You're right if you care about individual bot modes. The other 4 will still look bad and you got one good looking figure. But the combine mode there is no contest to me. Microblaze wins for me. For me this boosticus set is like putting lipstick on a pig... in the end you'll just have a pig with lipstick.

I think you'll want the other set once you realize the down falls of this set inhand. but good luck to you hopefully I'm wrong and you'll love it. But plz do let us know.

Well fansproject invented lipstick on a pig with their superion and bruticus sets. And this set is very comparable to their superion set in terms of what parts you get and the outcome after you add them. At the end of the day, you cant really compare any add on set combiner to the likes of hercules, intimidator, giant, or uranus. They can stand side by side non hasbro combiners in gestalt mode, but break them up into individual bots and the sugarcoating begins with a bunch of armor kibble crap. I really want to buy the microblaze set and might get it anyways. But im holding out for a G2 set. I would gladly buy it if they would throw in some takara boots. The microblaze paint scheme seems to work very well with the fruit, SDCC, and takara versions. Its just those damn boots that are killing it for me ! I wish there was as big a backlash from the takara buyers as the SDCC/platinum buyers put up. As many others did, I skipped the SDCC version and preordered takara before I even knew how they looked. Instinct alone told me they would look better and I was right. But as of now, microblaze doesnt seem to care about catering to us takara buyers (ironic since they spend the most) X transbots seems to be more interested in catering to all buyers, even ruination. Thats one of the reasons they are so awesome in my honest opinion. When that shapeways guy echo had the unpainted set out for sale, everybody including myself begged for a painted mass production. He delivered on multiple fronts. Im gonna support his stuff even if I do end up getting the microblaze mold.

Rated X wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:

Rated X wrote:On a cell phone this time so dont expect a perect answer. Basically, the FOC bruticus set is crap without an add on set. I admit after seeing the fruitcus image above, maybe hasbro didnt do a good job on proportions with the torso. But the funny thing is, the x transbots set seems to hide it. With the chest sheild and waist plate, the torso looks about the same as microblaze. Not sure why, but it makes the figure work. I always hated seeing a faction leader twice the height as his limb troops anyways, since the G1 cartoon never really emphasized that...it was exclusive to G1 toy scale. And your right, money is not an issue with me. But who said it wasn't cool to save ? The reason money isnt an issue is because I am very frugal with other parts of my life that the average american flushes thousands down the toilet every year. And I care about the individual bots as I do combined mode. A good looking onslaught isnt going to magically make the other four not look like crap. So I stand by my statement, that other than articulated fingers, x transbots does everything microblaze does for the combiner mode.

That's a really good reply! You're right if you care about individual bot modes. The other 4 will still look bad and you got one good looking figure. But the combine mode there is no contest to me. Microblaze wins for me. For me this boosticus set is like putting lipstick on a pig... in the end you'll just have a pig with lipstick.

I think you'll want the other set once you realize the down falls of this set inhand. but good luck to you hopefully I'm wrong and you'll love it. But plz do let us know.

Well fansproject invented lipstick on a pig with their superion and bruticus sets. And this set is very comparable to their superion set in terms of what parts you get and the outcome after you add them. At the end of the day, you cant really compare any add on set combiner to the likes of hercules, intimidator, giant, or uranus. They can stand side by side non hasbro combiners in gestalt mode, but break them up into individual bots and the sugarcoating begins with a bunch of armor kibble crap. I really want to buy the microblaze set and might get it anyways. But im holding out for a G2 set. I would gladly buy it if they would throw in some takara boots. The microblaze paint scheme seems to work very well with the fruit, SDCC, and takara versions. Its just those damn boots that are killing it for me ! I wish there was as big a backlash from the takara buyers as the SDCC/platinum buyers put up. As many others did, I skipped the SDCC version and preordered takara before I even knew how they looked. Instinct alone told me they would look better and I was right. But as of now, microblaze doesnt seem to care about catering to us takara buyers (ironic since they spend the most) X transbots seems to be more interested in catering to all buyers, even ruination. Thats one of the reasons they are so awesome in my honest opinion. When that shapeways guy echo had the unpainted set out for sale, everybody including myself begged for a painted mass production. He delivered on multiple fronts. Im gonna support his stuff even if I do end up getting the microblaze mold.

No need to compare to what Fansproject did 4 years ago? What they did back in the day was game changing. Without those two sets there will be no combiner market like we have it today.
but yea Microblaze said in June they will give us more info on other possible repaints and possibly a ruination set?

Rated X wrote:Well fansproject invented lipstick on a pig with their superion and bruticus sets. And this set is very comparable to their superion set in terms of what parts you get and the outcome after you add them. At the end of the day, you cant really compare any add on set combiner to the likes of hercules, intimidator, giant, or uranus. They can stand side by side non hasbro combiners in gestalt mode, but break them up into individual bots and the sugarcoating begins with a bunch of armor kibble crap. I really want to buy the microblaze set and might get it anyways. But im holding out for a G2 set. I would gladly buy it if they would throw in some takara boots. The microblaze paint scheme seems to work very well with the fruit, SDCC, and takara versions. Its just those damn boots that are killing it for me ! I wish there was as big a backlash from the takara buyers as the SDCC/platinum buyers put up. As many others did, I skipped the SDCC version and preordered takara before I even knew how they looked. Instinct alone told me they would look better and I was right. But as of now, microblaze doesnt seem to care about catering to us takara buyers (ironic since they spend the most) X transbots seems to be more interested in catering to all buyers, even ruination. Thats one of the reasons they are so awesome in my honest opinion. When that shapeways guy echo had the unpainted set out for sale, everybody including myself begged for a painted mass production. He delivered on multiple fronts. Im gonna support his stuff even if I do end up getting the microblaze mold.

The preorders for the regular/SDCC colors literally went up this week. I would hope we see a G2/Takara version announcement in the near future.

mooncake623 wrote:but yea Microblaze said in June they will give us more info on other possible repaints and possibly a ruination set?

^^^what this guys said.

megatronus wrote:

Rated X wrote:Well fansproject invented lipstick on a pig with their superion and bruticus sets. And this set is very comparable to their superion set in terms of what parts you get and the outcome after you add them. At the end of the day, you cant really compare any add on set combiner to the likes of hercules, intimidator, giant, or uranus. They can stand side by side non hasbro combiners in gestalt mode, but break them up into individual bots and the sugarcoating begins with a bunch of armor kibble crap. I really want to buy the microblaze set and might get it anyways. But im holding out for a G2 set. I would gladly buy it if they would throw in some takara boots. The microblaze paint scheme seems to work very well with the fruit, SDCC, and takara versions. Its just those damn boots that are killing it for me ! I wish there was as big a backlash from the takara buyers as the SDCC/platinum buyers put up. As many others did, I skipped the SDCC version and preordered takara before I even knew how they looked. Instinct alone told me they would look better and I was right. But as of now, microblaze doesnt seem to care about catering to us takara buyers (ironic since they spend the most) X transbots seems to be more interested in catering to all buyers, even ruination. Thats one of the reasons they are so awesome in my honest opinion. When that shapeways guy echo had the unpainted set out for sale, everybody including myself begged for a painted mass production. He delivered on multiple fronts. Im gonna support his stuff even if I do end up getting the microblaze mold.

The preorders for the regular/SDCC colors literally went up this week. I would hope we see a G2/Takara version announcement in the near future.

mooncake623 wrote:but yea Microblaze said in June they will give us more info on other possible repaints and possibly a ruination set?

^^^what this guys said.

Thats a long wait. I would enjoy a better bruticus on my shelf this month and at 55 bucks im a buyer. If the microblaze set comes out later, maybe I can do some mixing and matching. It would be cool to have the microblaze torso without the parts forming arms I reckon. I wonder if it can be done or if the connections are different ? I realize the partsforming arms are more poseable, but removing a ball joint one too many times just loosens it up. Then all your robots start doing splits and cant hold up a gun without the arms flopping.

Rated X wrote:Thats a long wait. I would enjoy a better bruticus on my shelf this month and at 55 bucks im a buyer. If the microblaze set comes out later, maybe I can do some mixing and matching. It would be cool to have the microblaze torso without the parts forming arms I reckon. I wonder if it can be done or if the connections are different ? I realize the partsforming arms are more poseable, but removing a ball joint one too many times just loosens it up. Then all your robots start doing splits and cant hold up a gun without the arms flopping.

But you don't know how long the wait will be...

[Echo TF] BEK-01G2 Boosticus Enhancement Kit (G2 version).

Awesome ! Im holding off on pre ordering the takara set though. I had a chance to watch that review above of the all black set. All that tight pressing and rubbing doesnt look like it will be friendly to takara shiny paint. Might have to go microblaze on that one. But im happy to buy the G2 set since who knows how long microblaze will take on that one ?